I like to read the gospel accounts of Jesus and create a photo album of him and the people He encountered. Going through this album and looking at “home videos” I learn more about Jesus, His character and heart for people.
Actually, as I page through the album I get glimpses of God because Jesus reveals God to us, John 1:18 states: “ No one has ever seen God, but the One and only Son, who is Himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made Him known.”
Also, as I look at the people around Jesus in these photos, I learn about the heart of mankind, which always helps me examine my heart and receptivity to Jesus. Let me share a few of these photos and videos with you.
Jesus with a Leper
Picture this: A man dressed in clothes with wholes and shreds. As look closely we see he is disfigured and has scaly crusty white patches on his arms. Some of his fingers are missing, People along the way begin to move away from him and murmur sounds of disgust. Then we see a young man and a small group of his friends nearing the man. The man calls out something. He is asking for help. The friends shrink back, but the young man moves closer and reaches out and touches the man. Almost instantly, we see the man’s flesh restored to normal. His fingers are whole. His skin is not scaly and crusty. Onlookers, still at a cautious distance, gasp. The man in tatters is leaping and praising God.
Maybe this is what it was like when Jesus looked on the leper with compassion. In the gospel of Mark in chapter 1, we read of an incident in which Jesus looked upon a leper with eyes of compassion and a will to help him. In fact, it is recorded that Jesus reached out and touched the leper before healing him and showed His tender care for this man.
“A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said. Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed. Mark 1:40-42.
I love the part that says the Son of God was “moved with compassion,” and “I am willing.” It is reassuring to know that God sees me with eyes of compassion and that He is willing to help me. It is good to remember the compassion of God as we go through our days.
Jesus with a Guilty Woman
There is a small crowd. Men’s angry voices can be heard. Wait! they have stones in their hands. Who is that in the middle of the circle? A women partially clothed is cowering in the dirt. A young rabbi looks on the scene with sadness and indignation on the group. He enters the ring and writes something in the dirt. Men drop stones and turn away. He turns to the sobbing, still cowering woman, and speaks gentle words of forgiveness and a direction. She rises and returns home. (See John 8:1-12).
When I am distraught about my sin, about wrestling with overcoming time and again and failing, I pull out this snapshot of truth and am encouraged. Knowing that God views my distress through eyes of compassion helps me trust in Him, stand up, and move forward.
Jesus and Men with Hard Hearts
This picture was taken on the Sabbath in the synagogue in the 1st century times. The synagogue is a great location for a picture. It was the focal point of the Jewish religious community. People went there to hear the law of God read and discussed.
In this picture, we see men sitting in the chief seats and a commoner seated on the floor. The We see critical eyes and cold hard stares in this circle. This ma seated on the floor has a withered hand. His eyes show sadness and fear. Also in the picture is a young rabbi who is looking with compassion on the man with the withered hand. The men sitting in the chief seats He calls this man forward and heals him. In the next photo we see indignation and grief on the young rabbi’s face, and hatred on the faces of the men in the chief seats.
It is said that after this compassionate healing took place, the men of the chief seats met in a group and conspired to kill the young rabbi. (See Mark 3:1-6)
I love the fact that Jesus’ compassion for the man lead Him to act on his behalf even when it posed a danger to Jesus. While Jesus felt compassion for the man with the withered hand, He felt deep sadness at the hard heartedness of the other man. Envisioning this scene helps me to trust Jesus. He is righteous and has a sense of justice. I can feel safe in confiding my hurts and injustices to Him.
Pictures Reveal Truth
The compassion of God is well documented in the scriptures. Jesus, who manifests the character and nature of God to us (Col. 1:18; John 1:1-3) overflows with compassion for us. As we read various accounts in the gospels, we can see the truth of God’s compassion, good will, and love for us revealed through Jesus towards us.
When I was younger it was the custom for people to carry a wallet for their cash, but also most of these wallets had a section of plastic holders for pictures. Usually people put pictures of their family and close friends. It was a reminder to them of their loved ones and they could whip it out and give others a better idea of their family and friends.
It is important to picture these truths about God in our minds and carry them with us in the wallets of our hearts.
In times when I am discouraged; feeling hurt and alone; misunderstood; let down by others; weary and tired, or guilty of sin, I pull out these truths of God. I look at them carefully. I put my faith in God anew and trust His compassion for me. I am reminded I am not alone. I have a Father who understands, who cares and whose compassion is active in my life.
I urge you to find and keep pictures of God, His character and nature in your spiritual wallet.
“I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction;
you have known the distress of my soul.” Ps. 31:7